Looking for black history month for kids: ideas, black history fun facts, black history inventors and heroes, and other black history month activities, printables, and resources?

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We’ve put together the ultimate guide to black history month for kids!

About Black History Month

Black history month is in February.

It starts on February 1st and runs the entire month until the end of February.

But, you don’t need to wait for the designated month to add amazing people to your lessons and studies and teach your kids about black history.

There are so many great black history heroes and black history month topics to study starting TODAY — even if it isn’t February!

Before we get to the black history resources and black history month printable activities, let’s take a look at some black history facts and how the month came about.

Black History Month Fun Facts

Here are some black history facts to give you a better understanding of the month:

Black History Month (initially just a week long) was created in 1926 by the Carter G. Woodson and the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History.

It was created to spotlight the contributions of black people throughout history.

The week was initially called “Negro History Week” and was initially celebrated the second week in February because it was the birthdays of two men who greatly influenced African American history: Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln.

The week was later expanded to Black History Month in 1976.

Founder and Harvard scholar Dr. Carter G. Woodson was disturbed by the lack of African American’s documented in American history, so he created the Journal of Negro History.

Black History Month is also called African American History Month.

The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture honors the contributions of African Americans.

“Hate is too great a burden to bear. It injures the hater more than it injures the hated.” -Coretta Scott King

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“The time is always right to do what is right.” -Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

“Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed.” –Booker T. Washington

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“Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave, I am the dream and the hope of the slave. I rise.” -Maya Angelou

Still I Rise by Maya Angelou: Famous African American Poems) [VIDEO]

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Black History Month Ideas

Check out these fantastic black history month theme ideas.

There are enough different ideas here that you can fill the entire month of February with black history lessons!

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Black History Month for Kids Idea #1: Study Black History Inventors, Black History Figures, and Black History Heroes

One of the best ways to incorporate black history month into your studies is to first start with reading books about important black figures and black leaders in history (and even some black superheroes)!

Black History Month for Kids Idea #4: Do a Black History Timeline Project

Each person can focus on 10 black history events that interests them. Design a timeline and then illustrate the timeline. At the end of the event, each kid can explain their timeline and why they chose those events.

2. The J. Paul Getty Museum

There are complete lesson plans including art, science, history, ESL, women in history, and so much more that you may find helpful for black history.

The downloads are free, but there are links to resources you can purchase in the online store to enhance the learning.

3. Library of Congress

Ages: Kindergarten – High School

The Library of Congress has a great selection of teacher, classroom and student lessons, eBooks and information on a variety of topics related to historical happenings in the United States, including black history.

You can also sort the information by Common Core standards, state regulations, and by organizations.

The documentary “investigates black portrait photographers and artists who have profoundly reshaped the image of contemporary and historic African Americans, and continue to do so.”

Great art additions for black history learning!

9. Smithsonian Heritage Resources

Ages: Kindergarten – High School

From the Smithsonian Institute, you have access to a wealth of information on heritage, culture, and background, including black history, women’s history, Asian Pacific heritage, Native American heritage, Hispanic heritage.

It’s another portal that I felt like I could get lost in (in a totally good way).

Once you access a heritage area, you are given lists of additional information from other Smithsonian sites.

DO YOU HAVE ANY FAVORITE BLACK HISTORY MONTH FOR KIDS RESOURCES THAT WE’VE MISSED?

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About The Author

Jacqueline Wilson is an educator of 17 years, writer, mom, wife, homeschool super freak, and #1 Bestselling Author. She is a discriminating sock monkey enthusiast and has a small collection of rescued pets. One more and she gets a free set of steak knives.